Free Wool Applique Pattern Challenge & More

I am please to share with you that something fun is happening at the The Wool Lady in Temecula CA. Ruth Molina, the shop owner has put out a challenge to her customers to take one of my patterns, Grandma's Garden and to develop there own color palette. How cool is that...she is offering Free Patterns to the first 4 participates that take the challenge. She started this challenge just a week or so ago and already has an entry.

I will be featuring photos of the entries as they come in..it will be so much fun to see how this pattern can be transformed with different colors..

                 Color Selection & Stitched by Karin Baliani of California


You too can win a free Grandma's Garden applique pattern from Crane Design, by leaving a comment below. A random drawing of all comments will held on July 31st and the lucky winner will be announced on August 1st.  

Wool Applique Crow & Candlemats BOM

Crow for all Seasons is a fun

Wool Applique Project of the Month Program.

It comes with 13 patterns one for each month

and a starter pattern to make your wool Crow.

 Each month includes a candle mat and accessories for your crow. 

 How much fun is that.

 

          Shop owners a great program to run classes or even have a club.

All the accessories are made of wool,

and come complete with illustrated instructions.

You will make jointed Rabbits & Squirrels

to toy drums to picnic basket filled with baby crows, to flying bees

to witchy brooms, to fun hats to nosegays with delicate flowers.

Some of the fine shops that are carrying this program are 

Quilt Shop of Chisholm

Mt Creek Quilts 

Something to Crow About 

Pattern Hutch

More shops coming..just email me to find a shop near you!



Gardeners Journal Day 3

Ah, spring is here, a morning of spending time in the garden.  My bones are aching, but the garden is getting cleaned...there is some showing of plants starting to sprout.

Today's treasure ...hidden under some leaves was a was two lovely little faces looking up at me...Johnny Jump-Ups.

Wise Johnny
Little Johnny Jump-up said,
“It must be spring,
I just saw a lady-bug
And heard a robin sing.”
- Edwina Fallis.

Gardening Notes:

Johnny Jump-ups -Viola tricolor, known as Heartsease, a short lived perennial, propagated by self seeding. It was and is therefore sometimes called Wild Pansy; before the cultivated Pansies were developed, "Pansy" was an alternative name for the wild form.

Gardeners Journal Day 2

Meet my gardening helpers..they were busy today lounging around on the stones while I was busy cleaning..some of the winter mess. The garden is a hub of activity with these fine felines. Crackers on the left, thinks that hiding go seeks is the best summer activity. MoMo just loves to sit on the horse head rock and watch for everything that moves, then pounces. On the right is Coalie..he is my baby, 14 years old and as regal as can be. 

I garden find today was that the Heather is starting to bloom..spring is in the air.  Just love the soft pink and green hues...might have to do my next stitchen project with these colors.

Gardeners Journal Day 1

Spring is here for now!!!!Since so many of my designs are from my Garden I have decided to keep a journal of the seasons. I am keeping a photo journal so I have a reference to look for new designs.

Today's find  was these charming snow drops....just peeking out of the leaves, enjoying the unseasonal weather of yes, 65 degrees.  I just love my garden it is filled with so many memories, These little bulbs came from my friend Pat..this little spot in the garden is now named Patty's Corner.

Gardening Notes: Snow Drops Galanthus (Snowdrop; Greek gála "milk", ánthos "flower"). Perennial, Bulb. Propagation is by offset bulbs, either by careful division of clumps in full growth ("in the green"), or removed when the plants are dormant, immediately after the leaves have withered; or by seeds sown either when ripe, or in spring.  Most flower in winter, before the vernal equinox (20 or 21 March in the Northern Hemisphere).

New Wool Applique Runner Grandma's Garden

We had a nasty week last week with snow and ice...so it seemed like the perfect time to do some stitchen. Of course I had no idea what I wanted to do so I searched though my computer files for old drawings..and Grandma's Garden appeared. With a little tweaking I finished up the drawing and was ready to search my stash for the perfect colors. It was a good day I found the original piece of a plummy purple hand dyed that I had bought over a year ago with this piece in mind.

It reminds me so of my Grammie, she always loved the lavender hues...hence this piece is dedicated to her. She would have loved it..she was always stitchin. As a kid I had wonderful doll clothes she made from velvet coats for my Tiny Tears,  to lacy nighties..best dressed doll in town.

Though I love the colors..when I finished I thought it would be great with red flowers..So my challenge for you, is for the first person to send me a photo of this piece in a different color scheme will win a free Wool or Punchneedle Pattern. To purchase this pattern check out the many fine shops listed that carry my patterns. I will post the winning photo on my blog for everyone to see.

I just finished this afternoon picking out wool for a new project...I can't wait to start it.

Have a Happy Stitchin day. jan

Gardening to do list......

The thoughts of gardening is taking over my mind..and the list just gets longer every day. I remembered a few weeks ago that the coneflowers are getting out of control..I must dig some up, give to friends or find somewhere else to plant them. I would never think of just tossing them away..lol. They just spread like wild fire and are out of control.

Last fall I was recouping from surgery and never got to cut them down..well, I know this year there will be thousands of seeds will be sprouting. They are topping the list of gardening to do's.

You might ask where is this rambling headed..well, I went to bed and had a dreaming of the spring tasks ahead...and came up with my lastest punchneedle design "Cone Flower Gardens". I couldn't stop with just the scissor case..but had to design a needlecase to make it a set. Love the mocha background against the pink flowers.  I have combined the punchneedle toppers with wool backers..just a rich combination..I hope you like!!!!